Fun and Games at the testing station
Took my bike to Vehicle Testing at lunchtime for its 6-monthly warrant check.
I'd been worried about the steering head but sorted it out recently.
So there was no real problems but you know what its like when you have a 17 year old bike.
Just my luck. LTSA are doing an audit of VT Tory Street today, so they inform me that as I'm the only bike thats comes in today they'll give me the deluxe test.
Well okay thats cool, but I only have a certain amount of time for lunch so don't take too long...
Suffice to say the bike passed but there were a few anxious moments:
1. checking the steering head - "It's a bit stiff mate, you need to get that seen too - its warrantable though..."
2. "what's happened to your footpegs." Um. Hero blobs broken off by the previous owner.
3. "Your brake lines are soft". Yup my brakes lines are 17 years old. Take it for a ride mate - they work fine.
4. "Why did you modify your muffler?" It's not too loud is it? Phew, not too loud. I ask them about the two brothers I want to put on. The LTSA man chirps in and tells me the laws are changing next year to make it difficult to put aftermarkets on. "They will have to be no louder than the original new muffler was." I mention how much of a can of worms that will be - he agrees and says "However, we need to reduce the noise from motorcycle exhausts as it is too distracting to other road users. It's a safety issue, Sir."
Huh. Go figure.
Never mind - I got my warrant.
And I to my motorcycle parked like the soul of the junkyard. Restored, a bicycle fleshed with power, and tore off. Up Highway 106 continually drunk on the wind in my mouth. Wringing the handlebar for speed, wild to be wreckage forever.
- James Dickey, Cherrylog Road.
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